[Request for Decision Concerning Forest Service Employee's Entitlement to Reimbursement for Dependent's Travel]

The Department of Agriculture requested a decision regarding a Forest Service employee's claim for transportation expenses for his dependent child incident to his transfer. The dependent was to accompany the claimant to his new duty station but, due to a personal injury, traveled to live with her mother instead. The employee claimed reimbursement for the department's transportation to her mother's residence. GAO held that the claimant was not entitled to reimbursement because, although the dependent actually resided with him at the time the Forest Service notified him of his transfer, she did not accompany him to or subsequently join him at his new duty station. Accordingly, the claim was denied.